Rickie Fowler will take a one stroke lead into the weekend of the U.S. Open, with the American breaking more records as he bids for a maiden Major Championship at LA Country Club.
Just 24 hours after becoming the first man to shoot 62 at the tournament, Fowler picked up where he left off with three birdies in his first three holes, thus becoming the fastest player to ten under in U.S. Open history.
Another approach to three feet had him 11 under but he gave a shot back on the fourth before sandwiching a bogey between birdies on the sixth and eighth to turn in 32.
Back to back bogeys from the tenth brought him back to Wyndham Clark and Xander Schauffele but he holed a long putt at the 12th before dropping another shot on the 13th.
Another bogey came on the 16th but Fowler surrounded it with a tee-shot to eight feet on the 15th and an approach to similar range on the 17th to match the lowest 36-hole total in tournament history as he moved to ten under.
“I’m in the lead but we’re only halfway there. Being in the lead is nice but it really means nothing right now, said Fowler, who also broke the record for most birdies through 36 holes with 18.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to challenge myself and go out there and try and execute the best I can.”
Compatriot Clark is a shot back in second, while Rory McIlroy – whose 11 under score after 36 holes in 2011 is the lowest 36-hole score to par in event history – was at eight under after a 67 alongside Xander Schauffele.
